Garment



March 24, 1942.

ERBULLOCH r A 2,277,068

GARME-NT Filed Jan. 18, 1940 ULL 06H Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE GARMENT Evelyn Ford Builoch, Pasadena, Calif.

Application January 18, 1940, Serial No. 314,539

1 clairs. y (ci. 2 224) This invention relates to a garment, more particularly to an improvement in undergarments of the pantie-girdle type for womens wear possessing an inherent fitting characteristic, but it is to be understood that the improvement, in accordance with this invention is to be employed in any form -of garment for which it is found applicable.

The invention aims to provide, in (a -manner as hereinafter set forth, a normally closed undergarment of. the snug fitting type for womens wear so constructed as to permit of the wearer to attend to bodily functions without the necesl sity of removing the undergarment or the other garment or 'garments encompassing the undergarment.

The invention formed with anormally closed slit extended from a point spaced below the top of the back to a point on the front of the garment and a conveniently reached and expeditiously operated slit opening and closing means for the use of the wearer to provide respectively for the opening of the slit to the desired extent to enable the wearer to attend to bodily functions and for closing v'the slit without removing the undergarment or the other garment or garments encompassing the undergarment. V-

. Y The invention further aims tol provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an'elastic snug tting undergarment for womens wear having means for conveniently and expeditiously partly` with a normally closed slit aligning at one endwith a hollow or cavity in the back of the wearer at the upper end of the rectal cavity, extending down the back, through the crotch of said body and then up the front of the latter to an extent to have its other end positioned above the pubic region, and said body having means correlated with the slit for opening and closing the latter disposed in convenient reach of and expeditiously voperated by the wearer of the garment for Opening the slit to permit ofthe wearer attending further aims to provide, in a' manner as hereinafter set forth, an undergarment of the snug iitting'type for womens wear the necessity of removing the garment from the person.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an undergarment for womens wear slitted in its back, throughout its crotch a'nd in its front, and means correlated withthe body of the garment for opening and closing the slit, the said means being so disposed as to prevent it being seen when the undergarment is encompassed by an outer garment having a low front and back.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a snug fitting undergarment having its body formed with a slit to permit of the wearer attending to bodily functions Without disrobing', means coextensive with the slit expeditiously and conveniently operated by the wearer for releasably holding the edges of the 'slit in close relation, for maintaining the slit normally closed and for opening the slit, one end of the slit arranged below the top of the back of the garment,'the other end arranged at the front of the garment below the top ofthe latter and the slit extending through the crotch of the garment from the bottom of the front to A the bottom of the back ofthe garment.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an undergarment for womens wear possessing inherent snug 1 undergarmentof the close tting type provided tting characteristics adapted to be wornon'the torso and including a utilitarian releasable c'lo.- sure extending from the front tothe back of the garment and through the crotch'of the latter.

The invention further aims to provide, in 'a manner as hereinafter set forth', a slitted elastic l with a releasable closure means for the slit disposed in novel relation with respect to the body of the. garment and in convenient reach of the wearer, when occasion requires for expeditiously opening and closing the slit. 'Ihe invention further aims to provide, in a 'manner as hereinafter set forth, an undergarment for womens wear which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable,

. compact, thoroughly efficient for the purpose intended thereby and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture; y

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and bodily functions and for closing the slit without arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the-accompanying drawing wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes,

'shown as in encompassing lulation 1.

variations and modicatlons may be resorted te which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

inthe drawing: Figure ljis a front elevation, broken away, of

-a slitted garment in accordance with this invention showing the adaptation thereof with respect to al fragmentary simulation of the body of a wearer and with the slit of the garment closed,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the garment with `the slit of the latter closed and .showing the adaptation of the garment 'with respect to a fragmentary simulation of thebody of a wearer,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the garment with the slit. thereof open,

' Figui-e4 is a section on line 8-8 Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vie similar to Figure 3 of a modified form.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4,V the garment 8 illustrated thereby is shown as of the pantiegirdle type. The body portion of the garment 8 2,277,068 i elements 25, 28 are oppositely disposed and are in the form of a pair of folded flexible tapes each carrying a row of teeth. The element 21 is in the form'of a slide correlating with the teeth of elements 25, 28 for the purpose of opening and outwardly from the edges 28, 2| respectively of' slit |8.

Arranged within the part 8 is a protecting member 28 of flap-like form constructed from a strip of fabric folded upon itself to form a pair A of folds. The member 28 gradually increases in width from each end thereof to its bend 25. The ends ofthe member 28 are anchored by the means 22, 28 to the inner face of part 8 above the ends I8, I8 of slit I8. The member 28 is of a width to extend from the edge 28 to beyond the edge 2| of the slit I8'. The member 28 is arranged against the tapes of the elements 25, 28. The member 28 and the tape of element 25 are secured'together and to the part 8 by the stitching 38. 'I'he member 28 is free of connection to the tape of element 28. The bend 28 of member 28 is arranged at the crotch of part 8;

The inner face of the front of part 8 has secured thereto, by stitching, a non-elastic strip of fabric 8|, which extends from the top of the front I'he garment 8, as shown uincludes a body portion formedY of a girdle or body part 8 and a pair of spaced leg parts 8, III depending from the part 8. The parts 8, 8, Ill are formed from a two part web il of material possessing the elastic characteristic desired. An elastic endless binder I2 is arranged at and secured to the upper end of the part 8. An elastic endless binder I8 is arranged and secured to the lower end of each of the leg parts. e

The-part 8 is formed with a slit, cutout, slot or opening I8V and which will be hereinafter termed a slit. 'I'he latter is intersected centrally by the vertical median of the front I5, the vertical median of the back I8 and the horizontal median of the crotch I1 of the part 8. 'I'he front end I8 of the slit I8 is arranged below the top l of the front i5 and disposed at a point above and in proximity to the pubic region of the wearer. The rear end I9 of the slit I8 is arranged y below the top of the .back I8 and disposed at a the slit-I8 v"are indicated at 28, 2I. The part 8- is provided with reinforcing means 22", 28 for the ends I8, 8 respectively of the slit I8. 'Ihe means 22 is in the form of a pair of parallel horizontal rows.of closely related-stitchings and the means -28 is in the form of a single horizontal row of closely related stitching. 'I'he means 22 is disposed in transverse relation to, is ilush with and borders the endl I8 ofthe slit I8. The means 28 is disposed in transverse relation to, is flush with and borders the end I8 of theslit'l8. 'Ihe means 22 is of greater length than the width of slit. I8 and it isfalso` of greater length than the There is correlated with the slit I8 for the purpose of opening and closing it,'a slide fastener means 28 of the "Zipper" type. The elements of the means 28 are indicated at 25, 28, 21. 'Il fastener means 88. `The latter is arranged out- 28 is greater than the combined width 'of the permanently.

tapes of the elements 25, 28 and is free of the tape of element 28. e

With reference to Figure 5, the modied form of vgarment 88'shown thereby includes a girdle part 88'and a pair of leg parts 85, 88. 'I'he garment 88 is of the snug fitting type and possesses the same characteristics as the garment 8. The part 88 is formed with a slit 81 having a closed rear end of the same form and disposed -in' the part 88 in the same manner as the end I8 of the slit I8 is arranged in the part 8. The front end 88 of the slit 81 is openand it is disposed at the top of the front of the part 88.- 'Ihe slit 81 is of greater length than the slit I 8, 'but it is positioned in the part'88 at a point similar to that in which the slit I8 is pomtioned in part 8. 88 includes a slide fastener means 88 corresponding in form to, but of greater length than the slide fastener means 28.V 'Ihe means 88 corresponds in length t9 the length of the slit 81. The means 88 is arranged relative to the slit 81 in the same manner as the means 28' is disposed relative to slit 28.Y The garment 8 8 includes a protecting member 88 for the same purpose as and which is of the same form and arranged in relation to the slit 81 in theY same manner as the length of' member 28. The member 88 on the outer face of its front portion 8| has secured thereto, below thetop thereof a set of su rposed eyes 82, which are to correlate with a set ,f hooks 88 for dotachably connecting the intermediate portion-of the `frontpart of the edges 88, 85 of th'e slit 81 together, independently of the-slide The garment wardly of said eyes and hooks. Otherwise than that asstated the garment 33 will be substantially of the same construction as the garment 6.

What I claim is:

In a foundation garment for womens Wear, an endless girdle part possessing inherent close itting characteristicsv and 4formed of a front, a back, a pair of sides and a crotch, spaced short leg part-s possessing inherent snug fitting characteristics integral with and depending from said girdle part adjacent opposite sides of the crotch, saidgirdle part being formed With a slit having a rear portion disposed downwardly on the verti-v cal median of said back, a front portion disposed upwardly on the vertical median -of said front and an intermediate portion disposed on the horizontalmedian of the crotch from said rear to said front portions, saidslit having iront and rear ends, said rear end being closed and so located at said back to provide when the garment is worn to align with a point above and in close proximity to the upper end of the rectal cavity of the wearer, slidev fastener means secured to the inner face of saidV front, crotch and back, bordering both sides of, coextensive with and extended from both sides of`the slit and providing for opening and closing the latter, the slide of said means when the slit is closed being located at the front end of the slit'and when the slit is opened being located at the rear end of the slit,

a folded protecting member of strip-like form segarment is worn to align with a point above and in proximity to the pubic region of the -wearer and below the to'p of -said front of the girdle part, reinforcing means for the rear end of the slit carried by the back of the girdle part, reinforcing means for -the 'front end of the slit carn'ed by the front oi the girdle part, and a nonelastic reinforcing means secured to the inner face of the upper portion of the front of the girdle part and slitted centrally of its lower portion, the slit in said reinforcing means registering with the upper part of vthe front portion of the said other slit.

EVELYN F. BULLOCH. 

